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Charlotte’s bringing back its New Year’s Eve uptown party. Here’s what you should know.

Sherry Phillips dances DJ Rayon during Charlotte’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Romare Bearden Park on Dec. 31, 2016. After a one-year absence, the uptown party will return to ring in 2022 at South Tryon Street at Levine Avenue of the Arts.
Sherry Phillips dances DJ Rayon during Charlotte’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Romare Bearden Park on Dec. 31, 2016. After a one-year absence, the uptown party will return to ring in 2022 at South Tryon Street at Levine Avenue of the Arts. Observer file photo

Mayor Vi Lyles will help lead the countdown to 2022 as Charlotte’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration returns after a year’s absence due to COVID-19.

The free uptown event, last held in 2019, will feature music, food trucks and fireworks.

Here’s what you should know:

When and where is the event

The celebration begins at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 with food trucks and a DJ on South Tryon Street at Levine Avenue of the Arts.

At 10 p.m., Charlotte band Mo Money will perform.

Just before midnight, the crowd will join in the countdown. The “Charlotte crown” will be lit but not dropped, and fireworks will go off to mark the beginning of 2022, Charlotte Center City Partners announced Friday.

Workers test the lights on the crown backstage at Charlotte’s New Year’s celebration on Dec. 31, 2014. The crown will light up - but it won’t be dropped - when the celebration returns to uptown to ring in 2022.
Workers test the lights on the crown backstage at Charlotte’s New Year’s celebration on Dec. 31, 2014. The crown will light up - but it won’t be dropped - when the celebration returns to uptown to ring in 2022. David T. Foster III Observer file photo

Street closures

Levine Avenue of the Arts will close between South Tryon and South Church streets at 9 a.m. Dec. 31.

South Tryon Street will close between Stonewall Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at 5 p.m. Dec. 31.

Both streets will reopen overnight.

COVID-19 precautions

Everyone attending the celebration is encouraged to wear a mask and to social distance, Charlotte Center City Partners spokeswoman Moira Quinn said.

Since the event is outdoors, people aren’t required to wear masks, Quinn said. But because of the crowd, they’re highly encouraged to put one on, she said.

Fireworks explode against the backdrop of the Charlotte skyline, as thousands of people gathered at Romare Bearden Park on New Year’s Eve to ring in 2017. The uptown event returns on Dec. 31, 2021.
Fireworks explode against the backdrop of the Charlotte skyline, as thousands of people gathered at Romare Bearden Park on New Year’s Eve to ring in 2017. The uptown event returns on Dec. 31, 2021. Patrick Schneider Charlotte Observer file photo

This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 6:45 AM.

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Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
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